Caller ID call memo system

ABSTRACT

A system and method of saving and delivering a voice memo or text memo to identify incoming calls is provided. A user of the system of the invention is given the option of recording a memo on the calls he or she has received through a prompt on a telecommunication device. The user can choose to record a voice memo or text memo after each call. The memos are saved in connection with caller id information pertaining to the number from which the call was placed. When a user of the system receives a call from a number that has a memo saved in relation thereto, the user will be prompted to hear, and may listen to, the voice memo before answering the call. If the memo is in text form, the user can configure the system to provide various processing options. In one processing option, a text to speech audio presentation of the text of the memo is made available to permit the message to be heard over a telephone or networked audio capable PDA device. In other processing options, the user has the text of the message sent to the user&#39;s PC or emailed or sent by instant message to the user&#39;s PDA device.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This specification is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/098,485, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of telecommunications and, inparticular, relates to the identification of a caller by a memoassociated with the number from which the call has been placed or towhich a call is being placed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although alphanumeric caller identification systems have been in use, nosystems presently allow for the recording of a voice memo or text memoto provide a specific message about the caller and permit organized callmanagement by the called party. While the identification of the numberand/or name of a calling party may be beneficial to the called party forday to day or residential use, such information is necessarily verylimited and may be insufficient in many situations, particularly in abusiness environment where copious calls are received at a quick pace.Upon seeing the calling party phone number and/or name, the called partymay not recognize the caller, and/or may not recollect any detailedinformation about the calling party, without first answering the call.

Certain systems, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,158 to Romero, disclosealphanumeric caller identification call-back devices that allow a userto automatically place telephone calls to previously received calleridentification directory numbers. These systems do not, however, permitrecording of any voice memo or text memo from the called party. Thenumber and/or name of the calling party that appears in the traditionalcaller id may not be enough information to permit the called party toidentify the reason for which the caller is calling, and/or any previousconversations the called party may have had with the caller. This systemallows a called party to be more fully informed of the caller, and tohear or read a memo about the caller before responding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method for identifying incomingtelephone calls and/or callers through the use of a voice or text memocaller identification.

In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a method forproviding information relating to a called number to a remote answeringservice that includes information identifying the called number,greeting information and details of the incoming telephone call.

In yet another of its aspects, the present invention provides a methodfor providing audio information from an audio database during a call.

In one manner of operation of the invention, each time a called partyreceives a call, upon termination of the call, the user that receivedthe call may record a voice memo, to be associated with the phone numberof the incoming call. This message will be replayed to the user in thefuture when another call is received from that number. The voice memo isa tool made available to a user of the system of the invention that isintended to assist the user in recollection of previous conversations,ongoing discussions, and the like. When a subsequent call is made fromthat number, the most recently recorded memo on the number will beplayed to the user, at the user's election, before the user answers thecall.

The system permits the user to listen to a pre-recorded message aboutthe caller before answering the call. Advantageously, the user mayreflect upon the nature of the call before responding. The voice memoaffords the caller the opportunity to take appropriate steps to handlethe call. For example, the user may hear the message and choose toignore the call, noting there is no new information to be provided tothe caller. Or, the user, that is to say the called party, may hear themessage and locate relevant paperwork on the caller before answering thecall.

The system is equally applicable to different network andtelecommunications processes. For example, a user of the system of theinvention may be actively using a PC. In such a case, the telephonenumber of the telephone of that user is associated with the networkaddress of the PC, which typically will be the IP address of that PC.Whenever a caller calls the user at his or her telephone number of thetelephone phone which is associated with a PC network address, the PCthat the user is active at would be pushed with the call memo at thegiven PC network or IP address. As another example, a user of the systemof the invention that is a subscriber to a PDA service can send amessage relating to the last call via SMS or email. When the usersubsequently receives a call from that number, the system would send ita text memo to the user's PDA in the form of SMS or email. Some PDAdevices include telephone capabilities, therefore, the destinationtelephone may actually be the PDA device depending on the services thatthe user has subscribed to.

The system is also applicable for different processes. For example, thememo could be stored on the number being called (DNS) instead of thecaller's number. This would work as a memo for remote receptionist. Whena client calls a company, say 1-800-****, it would be forwarded to aremote operator who handles several other companies as well. As the callis being transferred, the PC of the operator whose Internet Protocol(IP) address is attached to the 1-800-**** would be populated with amemo that would have greeting information relating to the company thatwas called. The greeting information includes company identificationinformation, a company directory, status information for each individualof the company (e.g. Mike is in a meeting) and provide a place to take amemo relating to the call. For example, if the number called was1-800-ABCD, the receptionist would be able to respond to the call, andif a call memo was created, it would be stored in a location that the1-800-ABCD staff 1-800-ABCD staff could later access. The page presentedto the receptionist preferably also has functions of a regular officephone system such as transfer calls to an extension and so on. Thereceptionist can take memo relating to the received call for eachextension and the memo would be sent as an email to the personassociated with the phone extension or the person can access the messagethrough the Internet.

The memo system is generic in the sense that the recording of the callmemo could also take place during conversation. So the user can use partof the conversation as a memo. And the memo could also be played duringa conversation so the calling party can listen to the conversation aswell.

The memo database is flexible as well so the user can import voice memosor files from another program or database and assign them codes.

An aspect of the specification provides a method of providing a callmemo associated with a particular telephone number comprising:

(a coupling a destination telephone to a call management system toenable caller-id information and audio data from the destinationtelephone to be exchanged with the call management system;

(b receiving an inbound call at the destination telephone;

(c performing processing at the call management system including thesteps of:

(i parsing the received caller-id information to obtain the callingtelephone number;

(ii querying a call memo database using the calling telephone number;and

(iii for a located record in the call memo database, providing a memocue to notify the called party of a call memo associated with thetelephone number of the incoming call.

The method can further include the step of recording said call memo.

The recorded call memo can be a voice memo that is recorded using saiddestination telephone.

The recorded call memo can be a voice memo that is recorded using acomputer coupled to said call management system to capture audio andcalling telephone number information or by uploading a file containingthe call memo and calling telephone number information.

The recorded call memo can be a text memo that is recorded using a PDAdevice and sent as a message to said call management system.

The method can further include the step of prompting a called party torecord a voice memo upon completion of a call at the destinationtelephone.

The prompt to record the voice memo can comprise an audible tone or avoice message.

The method can further include the step of receiving and recording acall memo from said destination telephone.

The method can further include the step of receiving a call memo messagefrom a computer in communication with said call management system.

The method can further include the step of receiving a call memo messagethat is recorded using a PDA device and sent as a message to said callmanagement system.

The memo cue can be an audible tone or a message.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of providing a callmemo, associated with a particular telephone number via SMS or email,comprising:

(a coupling a destination telephone to a call management system toenable caller-id information and audio data from the destinationtelephone to be exchanged with the call management system;

(b providing an association directory record accessible to said callmanagement system to associate an SMS or email message address with saiddestination telephone;

(c receiving an inbound call at the destination telephone;

(d performing processing at the call management system including thesteps of:

(i parsing the received caller-id information to obtain the callingtelephone number;

(ii querying a call memo database using the calling telephone number;and

(iii for a located record in the call memo database, providing a callmemo message to the message address contained in said associationdirectory that includes caller-id information of the telephone number ofthe incoming call.

This can further include the step of providing a prompt to thedestination telephone to enter a call memo upon completion of a call tosaid destination telephone.

This method can further include the step of receiving and recording acall memo from said destination telephone following providing saidprompt.

The method can further include the step of providing a prompt message tothe message address contained in said association directory to notifythe called party to enter a call memo upon completion of a call to saiddestination telephone.

The method can further include the step of receiving and recording anSMS or email message containing a call memo message from the SMS oremail message address associated in said association directory with saiddestination telephone number following said step of providing saidprompt message.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of providing a callmemo associated with a particular telephone number via a networkaccessible computer, comprising:

(a providing a call management system;

(b coupling a destination telephone to said call management system toenable caller-id information and audio data from the destinationtelephone to be exchanged with the call management system;

(c providing an association directory record accessible to said callmanagement system to associate a network address of a network accessiblecomputer with said destination telephone;

(d receiving an inbound call at the destination telephone;

(e performing processing at the call management system including thesteps of:

(i parsing the received caller-id information to obtain the callingtelephone number;

(ii querying a call memo database using the calling telephone number;and

(iii for a located record in the call memo database, providing a callmemo message to the message address contained in said associationdirectory that includes caller-id information of the telephone number ofthe incoming call.

The method can further include the step of providing a prompt to thedestination telephone to enter a call memo upon completion of a call tosaid destination telephone.

The method can further include the step of receiving and recording acall memo from said destination telephone following providing saidprompt.

The method can further include the step of providing a prompt messageaddressed to the network address contained in said association directoryto notify the called party to enter a call memo upon completion of acall to said destination telephone.

The method can further include the step of receiving and recording amessage containing a call memo from the network address associated insaid association directory with said destination telephone numberfollowing said step of providing said prompt message.

The network address can be an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

Another aspect of the specification provides a method of providing acall memo associated with a particular telephone number via a networkaccessible computer, comprising:

(a providing a call management system;

(b coupling a destination telephone to said call management system toenable caller-id information and audio data from the destinationtelephone to be exchanged with the call management system;

(c providing an association directory record accessible to said callmanagement system to associate a network address of a network accessiblecomputer with said destination telephone;

(d receiving an inbound call at the destination telephone;

(e performing processing at the call management system including thesteps of:

(i querying a call memo database using the destination telephone number;and

(ii for a located record in the call memo database, providing a calldetail memo to the network address contained in said associationdirectory containing information relating to the destination telephonenumber and relating to the calling telephone number.

The call detail memo information relating to the destination telephonenumber can include the greeting, company directory, status of eachextension.

This method can further include the step of including the receivedcaller-id information in said call detail memo information.

This method can further include the step of recording a call memorelating to the inbound call.

This method can further include the step of sending said call memo to anemail address.

This method can further include the step of making said call memoavailable for access via a computer network.

The computer network can be the Internet.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of providing a voicememo during a call comprising the steps of:

(a providing a call management system;

(b coupling a first telephone to said call management system (CMS) toenable audio data in a voice database accessible to the CMS to beexchanged;

(c establishing a call between said first telephone and a secondtelephone;

(d performing processing at the call management system including thesteps of:

(i monitoring the call between the first telephone and the secondtelephone for a trigger event;

(ii parsing the trigger event to obtain a command;

(iii performing the command against the voice database.

The step of performing the command against the voice database canprovide playback of an audio record in the voice database to the call.

The step of performing the command against the voice database canprovide recording the call to an audio record in the voice database.

The trigger event can be depressing at least one predetermined key ofsaid first telephone.

The trigger event can be depressing at least one predeterminedcombination of keys of said first telephone.

The trigger event can be the combination of depressing at least onepredetermined of key of said first telephone and providing a voicecommand to said first telephone.

In yet another aspect of the invention, any particular voice memo couldbe played to the calling party at any point in the conversation. Aplayback trigger activates playback of the voice memo. In one manner ofoperation, the playback trigger is a telephone number sequence enteredduring the conversation. In another manner of operation, the playbacktrigger is telephone number sequence and voice instruction which isdeciphered by the call management system to locate the desired voicememo for playback.

The invention will now be explained with reference to the appendeddrawings, which are briefly described as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an arrangement of equipmentadapted to carry out the system of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a process flow chart showing use of a caller id voice memothrough the system and method of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a process flow chart to creation of a caller id voice memothrough the system and method of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a process flow chart of a process to create an associationin an association directory between a user telephone number and personalcomputer (PC).

FIG. 5 shows a process flow chart to use a text or multimedia memo inconnection with a PC in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thesystem and method of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a process flow chart to create a text or multimedia memo inconnection with PC in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thesystem and method of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a process flow chart of a process to create an associationin an association directory between a user telephone number and apersonal digital assistant (PDA) device.

FIG. 8 shows a process flow chart to use a text or multimedia memo inconnection with a PDA device in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the system and method of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows a process flow chart to create a text or multimedia memo inconnection with a PDA device in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the system and method of the invention.

FIG. 10 shows a process flow chart of an alternate embodiment of theinvention that uses the number being called as a call memo organizedsystem.

FIG. 11 is an exemplary information page depicting information thatwould pop-up at a receptionist PC operating the system of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 shows a functional block diagram of an arrangement of equipmentof an alternate embodiment of the invention adapted to provide call memocapabilities at any time during a call based on a trigger event.

FIG. 13 is a process flow chart of a process of operation of theembodiment of the invention of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 shows a process flow chart illustrating a process to update tothe voice database of the embodiment of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention is operable using a number of voice and text basedcommunication systems to permit the user of the system to record andobtain memos relating to the caller ID of a caller that the user of thesystem has communications with. In the case of telephone basedcommunications, the caller will be identified by the caller IDinformation provided by the telephone service provider of the user ofthe system. When the user of the system has a telephone service thatincludes providing caller ID information then each in-bound call thatthe user of the system receives will include any available informationto identify the caller. The minimum information available generallyincludes the caller ID dial number indicating the telephone number thatthe caller is using to place the call to the user of the system. Inaddition, the caller ID information can include alpha numericinformation such as alpha numeric information providing the caller'sname or the business name of the caller. When the user of the systemreceives an in-bound call the system will compare the caller ID receivedfrom the user's telephone service provider and that caller IDinformation will be used to access the database maintained the system.If there is a memo in the database, then the contents of that memo willbe made available to the system user before the in-bound call isaccepted. The database can include audio files that will play back orcan be text based memos that a text-to-audio converter will read toprovide the memo information to the user of the system. For example,when the user of the system is a real estate agent, the memo informationcan include details about the properties previously shown to the caller.If the user of the system wishes to listen to the memo then aninteraction with the system can take place to indicate to the systemthat the user wishes to listen to the memo.

If the user does not wish to listen to the memo, the system can bedirected to connect the user with the caller and the call can take placein the normal fashion. The user can provide preferences for the playback of a memo. For example, the user can configure the system toprovide playback of the memo without prompt. When the memo is beingplayed back, the user can interrupt the playback by pressing a selectedpredetermined number on the telephone that the memo is being listened toat. When the user picks up the phone, if there is a memo, it will beplayed and pressing a key on the telephone handset can interrupt theplaying of that memo. The foregoing description describes how theinformation recorded in the memo database is made available to a userwhen the communications between the user and a caller takes place overthe telephone system.

FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of an arrangement of elementsadapted to carry out the system of the invention. The invention has acall management system (CMS) 10 which is interconnected with thecommunications facilities of the user of the system in a mannerdescribed in more detail hereafter. In relation to communicationsbetween a user and a caller taking place over the telephone system, theuser of the system has a telephone set 12 having a keypad and handset tofacilitate placing and receiving calls over the telephone network. Thetelephone set 12 is coupled to the call management system 10 via atelephone line 14 that extends between CMS 10 and the telephone handset12. The public switched telephone network (PSTN) telephone line 16 iscoupled to CMS 10 to permit CMS to receive supervisory signalling andinteraction with the user operating telephone handset 12. Thesupervisory signalling includes such information as ring signalling andon-hook/off-hook detection to enable CMS 10 to determine when a call isbeing received by handset 12 and receive the caller ID information fromthe public switched telephone network over the telephone line 16.Moreover the on-hook/off-hook detection of telephone handset 12 is usedto enable the system to prompt the user for further instruction in themanner that will be described in more detail with reference to the otherfigures of the drawings.

As will be understood, it is not necessary for handset 12 to be a directconnection to the public switched telephone network over telephone line16. The system of the invention will also operate in a businessenvironment where the business has a number of telephone lines 18interconnecting with a private branch exchange (PBX) 20 situated at thecustomer premises. The line extending from the PBX 20 to the telephonehandset 12, namely line 22 of the user for telephone handset 12 isrouted to the CMS 10 to permit the CMS 10 to intercept the same callingsignalling as was described with reference to the signalling monitoringand supervisory signalling intercept described with reference to line16. Thus when a caller from an originating telephone 24 makes a call tothe user's telephone 12 through the PSTN 26, the caller ID informationrelating to the calling telephone 24 is provided to CMS 10 via the line16 or 22 to which handset 12 is coupled. In this manner, CMS 10 isinter-operable with telephone 12 to provide and receive audiocommunications with handset 12 as well as receive caller ID informationfrom the telephone service provider of caller 12. Information relatingto the call can be stored in a memo database 28 in one of many formsincluding an audio recording, a text message, or a specializedmulti-media message such as a still image or an audio/video file. Thestorage and use of the records in the memo database will be explainedmore fully with reference to other figures of the drawings. However, thememo database 28 is triggered to provide information from the memodatabase to the subscriber 12 based on the caller ID of the caller usingexemplary handset 24 to call the user handset 12. Preferably, CMS 10 isinterconnected to a network 30, for example the Internet or a local areanetwork (LAN). In this way, a user can use a personal computer 32 tointeract with the CMS 10 to configure CMS 10 or provide memos to CMS 10for storage in the memo database 28 or instruct CMS 10 to retrieve memosfrom memo database 28. The memo database is accessible over the Internet30 so that the user can use a computer 32 to upload other messages.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show flow charts of the process steps that a user of atelephone 12 would follow to be notified of an existing voice memo or torecord a voice memo respectively using a telephone handset tointer-operate with the system of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a process flow chart of a process flow of CMS 10 when acall from a PSTN caller at a telephone 24 to a user telephone 12inter-operating with CMS 10 is made. For calls received over the PSTN 26at telephone 12 the CMS 10 will perform a check of memo database 28using the caller id of the calling party. If there is voice memo foundin the memo database, a memo cue in the form of an audible tone or avoice message notifies the called party at telephone 12 that a voicememo exists for the caller, as denoted by process box 34 of FIG. 2. Onhearing the memo cue, the called party uses the telephone 24 to interactwith CMS to listen to the voice memo, or to answer the call directly asillustrated by process box 36.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which shows a process flow chart of aprocess flow of CMS 10 when a call between a user operating telephone 12and a PSTN caller from telephone 24 is completed.

When a call between a user of a telephone 12 coupled to the CMS 10 ofthe system of the invention and an outside caller at telephone 24 iscompleted, CMS 10 provides an audio prompt to the user of telephone 12to record a voice message or voice memo as depicted by process box 38 ofFIG. 3.

The voice memo could be recorded during a conversation as well. All thememos would be accessed when the caller callback. It could also beaccessed through the web, sent in the form of attachment to an email tothe subscriber or the voice memo can be changed from voice to text andstored in conjunction of the voice memo for easy search.

When a voice message memo is stored upon completion of a call, the voicemessage is stored in the memo database 28 connected to the CMS 10 asdenoted by process box 40 of FIG. 3. The stored voice memo message isorganized and recorded in the memo database 28 based on the caller idinformation of number from which the call was received. The called partyoperating telephone handset 12 may record a message of any nature, forexample summarizing the call or reminding him or her of any action thatwill need to be taken on the matter or other background information thatwould be convenient to make available on a subsequently received call.When a subsequent call is placed from the calling number to thesubscriber, the recorded message is played back to the user as waspreviously described with reference to FIG. 2. For example, the mostrecent voice memo corresponding to the caller ID of the calling party isprovided to the called party

Referring again to FIG. 1 an association directory (AD) 42 is coupled toCMS 10 to record an association of a user telephone 12 to a personalcomputer (PC) 32. The PC 32 is in communication with CMS 10 over anetwork, which is shown in the configuration of FIG. 1 as the Internet30. But it will be understood, that other networks, such as a local areanetwork extending between PC 32 and CMS 10 can be advantageously used aswell. The association directory records the PC address of the PC that isto be associated with the telephone 12, as depicted in FIG. 4 by theprocess box 44.

FIG. 4 shows a process flow chart of a process to create an associationrecord in an association directory 42 defining an association betweenthe user telephone number of telephone 12 and an associated personalcomputer (PC) 32. The user wishing to make an association of a telephone12 to a personal computer 32 enters the telephone number and associatedPC network address information into a record in an association directory42. The information in association directory 42 is then used by CMS 10to communicate with PC 32 in the manner described more fully withreference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show flow charts of the process steps that a user of atelephone 12 would follow to be notified of an existing text ormultimedia memo or to record a text or multimedia memo respectivelyusing a personal computer to inter-operate with the system of theinvention.

FIG. 5 shows a process flow chart to use a text or multimedia memo inconnection with a PC in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thesystem and method of the invention. The process flow chart of FIG. 5depicts a process flow of a process thread operating on CMS 10 that isexecuted when a call from a PSTN caller a telephone 24 is received at auser telephone 12 and a record in association directory 42 associatescalls to telephone 12 with a PC 32. For calls received over the PSTN 26at telephone 12 the CMS 10 will perform a check of memo database 28using the caller id of the calling party. If there is memo found in thememo database, CMS 10 will check association directory 42 to determinethe manner in which to process the memo. If no entry is found inassociation directory 42 the call will be processed as a voice call inthe manner previously described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Asdepicted by process box 46 of FIG. 5, CMS 10 queries the associationdirectory 42 to determine If an active association entry is found toestablish an active association between the called telephone 12 and a PC32. If an active association is found, CMS 10 causes the memoinformation from memo database 28 to be delivered to the networkinterconnecting CMS 10 with associated PC 32. The memo information ispresented to the user on PC 32, preferably in the form of a pop upwindow to facilitate prompt attention from the user to the contents ofthe memo information as depicted by process box 48. The memo informationcan take the form of a text message that is presented to the user toread. Alternately or additionally, the memo information can includemultimedia content, including audio, video and or pictorial content. Theuser may be presented with a dialogue box to interact with CMS 10 totake the call, or to play a recording that the caller at telephone 24can hear to leave a message.

FIG. 6 shows a process flow chart to create a text or multimedia memo inconnection with PC in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thesystem and method of the invention. The process of FIG. 6, is a processflow of CMS 10 when a call between a user operating telephone 12 and aPSTN caller from telephone 24 is completed and the called telephone 12has an active association with a user PC 32. When a call between a userof a telephone 12 and PC 32 coupled to the CMS 10 of the system of theinvention and an outside caller at telephone 24 is completed, the userof telephone 12 is prompted at PC 32 to record a text memo of the callor a multimedia memo such as a voice memo in accordance with the processbox 50 of FIG. 6. The memo is stored in the memo database 28 connectedto the CMS 10 as denoted by process box 52 of FIG. 6. The stored memomessage is organized and recorded in the memo database 28 based on thecaller id information of number from which the received call was made orplaced. The user, that is the called party, operating activelyassociated PC 32 may record a call memo message of any nature. Forexample, a call memo summarizing the call or reminding him or her of anyaction that will need to be taken on the matter or other backgroundinformation that would be convenient to make available on a subsequentlyreceived call. When a subsequent call is placed from the calling numberto the user of the system of the invention, the recorded call memomessage is provided back to the user as was previously described withreference to FIG. 5. For example, the most recent text or multimediamemo corresponding to the caller ID of the calling party operatingtelephone 24 is provided to the called party for display or productionfor the user at actively associated PC 32.

Referring again to FIG. 1 an association directory (AD) 42 is coupled toCMS 10 to record an association of a user telephone 12 to a personaldigital assistant (PDA) device (PDA) 54. The PDA 54 is in communicationwith CMS 10 over a network, which is shown in the configuration of FIG.1 as a PDA network (PDAN) 48. Generally, the communications link 55between PDA device 54 and PDAN 48 is provided as a wirelesscommunications link to the PDA device 54 to permit mobility of thedevice. However, it will be understood, that the architecture of PDAN 48may include communication paths to PDA 54 over other networks, such as alocal area network (LAN)/Internet 30 that are advantageously used inproviding a communications link between CMS 10 and PDA 54. Some PDAdevices include telephone capabilities, therefore, the destinationtelephone 12 may actually be a virtual telephone in the sense that thetelephone functionality is provided physically in the PDA device 54itself, which of course will depend on the services that the user hassubscribed to.

FIG. 7 shows a process flow chart of a process to create an associationin an association directory between a user telephone number of thetelephone 12 and a personal digital assistant (PDA) device 54. Theassociation directory 42 records the PDA address of the PDA device 54that is to be associated with the telephone 12, as depicted by theprocess box 56 of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show flow charts of the process steps that a user of atelephone would follow to use and receive an existing text or multimediamemo or to record a text or multimedia memo respectively using apersonal digital assistant (PDA) device in accordance with the system ofthe invention.

FIG. 8 shows a process flow chart to use a text or multimedia memo inconnection with a PDA device in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the system and method of the invention. The process of FIG. 5 is of aprocess flow of CMS 10 when a call from a PSTN caller to a usertelephone 12 inter-operating with CMS 10 is made where a record inassociation directory 42 associates calls to telephone 12 with a PDAdevice 54. For calls received over the PSTN 26 at telephone 12 the CMS10 will perform a check of memo database 28 using the caller id of thecalling party operating, for example, telephone 24. If there is memofound in the memo database, CMS 10 will check association directory 42to determine the manner in which to process the memo. If no entry isfound in association directory 42 the call will be processed as a voicecall in the manner previously described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.As depicted by process box 58 of FIG. 8, CMS 10 queries the memodatabase 28 for a call memo record corresponding to the caller-id of theinbound call. If a memo record is found, CMS 10 queries the associationdirectory 42 to determine If an active association entry is found toestablish an active association between the called telephone 12 and aPDA 54. If an active association is found, CMS 10 causes the memoinformation from memo database 28 to be delivered to the networkinterconnecting CMS 10 with the associated PDA 54. The memo informationis presented to the PDA 54 as an SMS or instant message as depicted byprocess box 60 to facilitate prompt attention from the user to thecontents of the memo information. The memo information can take the formof a text message that is presented to the user to read. Alternately oradditionally, the memo information can include multimedia content,including audio, video and or pictorial content depending on thecapabilities of the PDA device. The user may be presented with aninteraction feature of the PDA operating in concert with the CMS 10 overPDAN 48 to take the call, or to play a recording that the caller attelephone 24 can hear to leave a message.

FIG. 9 shows a process flow chart to create a text or multimedia memowith a PDA device 54 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thesystem and method of the invention. The process of FIG. 9, is a processflow of CMS 10 when a call between a user operating telephone 12 and aPSTN caller from telephone 24 is completed and the called telephone 12has an active association with a user PDA 54. When a call between a userof a telephone 12 and PDA 54 coupled to the CMS 10 of the system of theinvention and an outside caller at telephone 24 is completed, the userof telephone 12 is prompted at PDA 54 to record an email or a text memoof the call or a multimedia memo such as a picture, video or voice memoin accordance with the process box 62 of FIG. 9. The call memo is storedin the memo database 28 connected to the CMS 10 as denoted by processbox 64 of FIG. 9. The stored memo message is organized and recorded inthe memo database 28 based on the caller-id information of the telephone24 from which the call was received. The called party operating activelyassociated PDA 54 may record a memo of any nature, for examplesummarizing the call or reminding him or her of any action that willneed to be taken on the matter or other background information thatwould be convenient to make available on a subsequently received call.When a subsequent call is placed from the calling number to the user,the recorded memo is provided back to the user as was previouslydescribed with reference to FIG. 8. For example, the most recent text ormultimedia memo corresponding to the caller ID of the calling party isprovided to the called party for display or production for the user atactively associated PDA 54.

The call memo message can be stored by any of a number of differentprocedures. In one manner of operation, whenever the user received acall on telephone 12 (or even the PDA device 54 itself, depending on thecapabilities of the device and the settings the user has provided in theassociation database 42), CMS system 10 would send an email to the userPDA 54 prompting the user to enter a message for the last call. The usercan enter the message using the PDA by replying to the email with thememo information that is desired. Alternatively, the user can store thememo relating to the call by sending it to a default email address.Using this alternate manner of operation, the email would contain thecaller-id of the call that the memo relates to in the subject line toenable CMS 10 to place the message within memo database 28 under thedesired caller-id location. If no caller-id information is contained inthe subject line of the message, CMS 10 would store the memo messagewith the last call received at actively associated telephone 12.

FIG. 10 is a process flow chart of an alternate embodiment of theinvention that uses the number being called as a call memo organizedsystem. The memo would be stored on a database by the subscriber at aremote location. When a call is made to a dialed number, the call isforwarded to a call receiving station operated by a receptionist (remotereceptionist) who is provided with a telephone to receive the call and acomputer to interact with the system of the invention. When the inboundcall is received, a memo would be popped up on the receptionist a PCwhose network address, which is typically an IP address, is associatedwith the number that was dialed by the caller. The stored memo isaccessible by the switching facility. The memo would include things likegreetings, company directory, and memo on each staff member. It couldalso include links to control the calls such as call transfer, transferto voice mail. The remote receptionist could store a memo for each staffmember that could be accessed through web or sent in the form of email.An example of the information page that would pop-up at the receptionistPC is shown on in FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 shows a functional block diagram of an arrangement of equipmentof an alternate embodiment of the invention adapted to provide call memocapabilities at any time during a call based on a trigger event. A voicedatabase 28 provides a repository of audio information that can berecorded from any one of a variety of sources and played back to any oneof a variety of receivers. The voice database 28 is accessible from apersonal computer (PC) 102 operated by a user that logs onto anapplication hosted by CMS 10 to maintain the voice database 28 over anetwork such as the internet. From the personal computer 102, the userprovides a user account to gain access to his or her entries in thevoice database 28. Once authorized, the user interacts with PC 102/CMS10 to update that user's voice database entries, by adding voices to thevoice database, changing the entries or by deleting entries in the voicedatabase. Similarly, a user of a telephone 104 can dial-in access to CMS10 over the public switched telephone network to that user's account.Once authorized, the user uses telephone 104 to interact with CMS 10 toupdate that users voice database entries by adding voices to the voicedatabase, changing the entries or by deleting entries in the voicedatabase.

On subsequent telephone calls, the user uses their telephone 106, whichcan be a cellphone, voice over internet protocol (VoIP), phone or POTSPSTN telephone to contact the call management system CMS 10 and place acall to a receiving telephone 110. When a call is completed in thismanner, CMS 10 has access to the voice database 28 and monitors the callfor a trigger keypress. When the trigger keypress occurs, the selectedrecord from the voice database 28 is played back during the call betweenthe user operating telephone 106 and the other party operating receivertelephone 110. An example illustrating use of the system of theinvention to playback voice messages from the voice database 28 follows.

A user of the system of the invention is able to play a voice memo orrecording during conversation so that both parties can hear the voicememo. Also, a user of the system of the invention is able to record theconversation of the call. The entire voice memo is recorded in the voicedatabase 28 and is accessed or activated by pressing combination of keyson the phone and may also include voice directed commands. The voicememo database is accessed by the user with a computer or by telephone.Voice recordings can be added by recording from the computer ortelephone, or the voice recordings can be included from another databaseor even provided by a provider of the services of the invention.Organization and use of the voice database is exemplified by thefollowing table:

     1 Key Press Voice Activation Memo to play #8973 # “Scooby”ScoobyDoobyDoo.vox *345 # “Dream” I_have_a_Dream.vox *345 # “LoveSong”I_will_always_love_you.vox Key Press Voice Activation Memo to record ### “Record” date_time.vox

For example, when a subscriber is talking to his girlfriend, he canenter a playback trigger, simply by pressing a predetermined key orcombination of keys. As shown in the table, the combination of key *345will activate playback of the song I_will_always_love_you, which wouldplay during the call. The activation trigger can include a combinationof key and voice command. Thus, in the table, another way of activatingplayback of the song I_will_always_love_you is to press the # key andsay the words “LoveSong”. The playback key trigger or key and voicetrigger commands associated with each entry in the voice database aremaintained by the user by accessing the voice database in the mannerpreviously described with reference to FIG. 12. A user of the system isable to record the call, or record his or her own voice and specify thetrigger key to press or voice activation parameters online or throughphone.

Thus the call memo or voice database described herein is useful forcontaining user recordings recorded by the user of himself or herself orpredefined recordings obtained from others. The playback of call memosand voice recordings in the database is configurable to permit only asubscribing user to hear the audio playback of the call or voice memo.Alternately, as described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, the audioplayback is configurable to be heard by both parties to a call. In onemanner of implementation, CMS 10 provides recording playback control orprompts and in another the user is able to control which memo is to playand at what time.

FIG. 13 is a process flow chart of a process of operation of theembodiment of the invention of FIG. 12 where a user initiates a callthrough CMS 10 to a receiving telephone 110. A subscriber dials thenumber corresponding to receiver 110 as depicted by process box 112. Theparty at the receiving station picks up the call to complete the voicecommunications between the caller and the called party as depicted byprocess box 114. At this point, CMS 10 is monitoring the calls for thetrigger event. The subscriber presses the trigger event, which is shownin process box 116 as #8973 in one manner of presenting the triggerevent. Another manner of presenting the trigger event is to use thecombination of keystrokes and voice activation which in the example ofthe trigger event shown in process box 116 is for the subscriber todepress the # key and say SCOOBY. CMS 10 responds to the trigger eventby retrieving the corresponding voice message from the voice database 28and thus the voice or SCOOBY DOOBEY DOO is played so that both partiescan hear the playback during the course of the conversation.

FIG. 14 shows a process flow chart illustrating a process to update tothe voice database of the embodiment of FIG. 12. The user connects tothe voice database using either the PSTN or Internet as was previouslydescribed with reference to FIG. 12. The user selects a set of voicefiles from a provider as depicted by process box 120. The voice messagescan include, for example, songs or well-known comic characters, such asfor example, those of Disney. During maintenance of the voice database,the user can modify the trigger that is associated with each voice asdepicted by process box 122. Thus the trigger to trigger the playback ofSCOOBY can be set to #456 as shown by process box 122. Alternately, fora voice trigger the voice trigger is entered as the keystroke # and theuser provides the corresponding voice reference which is shown inprocess box 122 as the phrase “SCOOBY”. Of course, the user is notrestricted to obtaining the voice database repertoire from anotherprovider as was described with reference to process box 120. The usercan record his or her own voice recording as depicted by process box124. Any voice recordings that the user provides would have acorresponding trigger associated with each respective recording as wasexplained with reference to process box 122.

Now that the invention has been described with reference to theembodiments shown in the attached figures, numerous substitutions andequivalents will occur to those skilled in the art. The invention is notlimited to the specific embodiments described but rather is defined inthe claims appended hereto.

1. A call management system comprising: (a) a coupler for coupling to adestination telephone for receiving supervisory signalling at the callmanagement system relative to the originating telephone and thedestination telephone and to interact with the destination telephone;(b) means for receiving an inbound call from an originating telephone atthe call management system, said inbound call destined for thedestination telephone; (c) means for, before answering the inbound callat the destination telephone, performing processing at the callmanagement system including the steps of: (i) means for parsing, at thecall management system, caller-id information received with said inboundcall to obtain a calling telephone number associated with theoriginating telephone; (ii) means for querying, from the call managementsystem, a call memo database using the calling telephone number; saidcall memo database containing at least one record representing a callmemo made subsequent to a previous call with the originating telephoneand associated with the calling telephone number; (iii) means, for alocated one of said records in the call memo database, after saiddestination telephone is picked-up, for providing a memo cue from thecall management system to the destination telephone to generate anotification at the destination telephone of said call memo; (iv) means,in response to said memo cue, for receiving an input instruction fromsaid destination telephone at the call management system to listen tothe call memo at the destination telephone, or connect the inbound callto the destination telephone; and, (v) means, in response to said inputinstruction, playing the call memo from the call management system atthe destination telephone or connect the inbound call to the destinationtelephone.
 2. The system of claim 1 further including means forrecording an additional call memo.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein therecorded call memo is a voice memo that was previously recorded usingsaid destination telephone.
 4. The system of claim 2 wherein therecorded call memo is a voice memo that is recorded using a computercoupled to said call management system to capture audio and callingtelephone number information or by uploading a file containing the callmemo and calling telephone number information.
 5. The system of claim 1further including means for generating a prompt at said destinationtelephone to record an additional voice memo after the originatingtelephone hangs up and prior to hanging-up said destination telephone.6. The system of claim 5 wherein the prompt to record the voice memocomprises an audible tone or a voice message.
 7. The system of claim 5further including means for receiving and recording a call memo fromsaid destination telephone via the call management system.
 8. The systemof claim 5 further including means for receiving a call memo messagefrom a computer in communication with said call management system. 9.The system of claim 5 further including means for receiving a call memomessage that is recorded using a personal digital assistant (“PDA”)device and sent as a message to said call management system.
 10. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein the memo cue is an audible tone or a message.